Roma fight back twice to snatch 3-3 draw at Napoli

Gasperini sees belief in Roma’s comeback at Napoli

Roma twice fought back from behind to earn a 3-3 draw away to Napoli, with an 89th-minute header from Leonardo Balerdi completing a stirring late response.

Roma had trailed 2-0 after Napoli scored through an acrobatic Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa finish and a Scott McTominay header. Matias Soulé and Balerdi then struck within five minutes to level the match, before McTominay put Napoli back in front with a long-range effort.

Roma kept pressing, and Balerdi met a Wesley cross at the back post to claim the equaliser in the 89th minute. Gasperini said his side had not lost faith even after conceding Napoli’s third goal.

“We felt that we could win the game, so that third Napoli goal could’ve destroyed us, but instead we got back on track and felt this great conviction we could bring home three points,” Gasperini told DAZN Italia.

Roma coach praises composure and self-belief

Gasperini said Napoli had been superior during the opening half-hour, when Roma struggled to play out from the back, but felt his team improved before the break. He described the second half as open, with chances at both ends.

He praised Roma for remaining composed and sticking to their approach rather than panicking. The coach singled out Soulé for an “extraordinary performance” and also commended the team’s energy and contributions from the substitutes.

Despite salvaging a point after going 3-2 down, Gasperini said Roma came away feeling they had missed an opportunity. “Considering we were 3-2 down, we’ll take it,” he said, while adding that the performance left the team feeling as if it had “dropped two points.”

Draw adds to Roma’s tests against leading sides

Gasperini said Roma had been competitive in each of their three major league tests so far, despite drawing against Inter, Como and Napoli. He described the Napoli comeback as “another positive confidence booster,” citing the quality of the opposition and the way his players recovered after falling behind again.

The coach also praised Balerdi’s quick adaptation and leadership, saying the defender understood the team’s defensive movements quickly and brought remarkable energy. Roma’s response at the Maradona, Gasperini added, strengthened the team’s belief that it could compete with anyone.